Bark Radio

Holidays can be a stressful time for our dogs. Dee and Terry discuss everything from Christmas tree safety to holiday parties in this episode of Bark Radio. Great stocking stuffer for the doggy people in your life: Patricia McConnell’s How to Be the Leader of the Pack and Have Your Dogs Love You For It. Available at Amazon for on $3.95.

The Leader of the Pack by Patricia McConnell

Keep your dogs safe this winter with Dee and Terry’s cold weather tips. If your dog spends a lot of time outside, bring him in more during cold winter months. Is your dog getting up there in years?  Just like people, older dogs’ joints hurt more in cold weather, so make Fido comfortable with a cushy dog bed. The discussion continues with the top ten poisons that can harm or even kill your dog. Listen up. Beware. Keep your pets safe! For more information on toxic substances, use keyword “poison” on Bark Radio’s site. For a complete list of toxic plants, go to the ASPCA’s site. The ASPCA’s poison control center is at 888.426.4435.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Please remember these are just a few of the potential food dangers to your dog. If you suspect your dog has eaten something poisonous  get to a vet immediately. The ASPCA’s poison control center’s number is 888.426.4435.

• Apple, Almond, Apricot, Peach, Wild Cherries, Plum, Balsam Pear, Prunes and similar fruits: diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, (stem, seeds and leaves). The seeds of most fruits contain cyanide, which is poisonous to dogs as well as humans.
• Avocados: The fruit, pit and plant are all toxic. They can cause difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation in the chest, abdomen and heart.
• Broccoli: Reported to be pretty potent gastrointestinal irritant (just like in humans).
• Cherry: Rapid breathing, shock, mouth inflammation, heart rate increase.
• Chocolate: Seizures, coma, hyperactivity, rapid heart beat, tremors, death. Bakers chocolate is the most dangerous. If you suspect your pet had ingested chocolate, please keep an eye out for ANY signs of poisoning! All dogs react differently.
• Coffee/Tea: Drinks/foods containing caffeine or sugar may cause many of the same symptoms chocolate causes.
• Cooked Bones: Don’t give your dog cooked bones because they deteriorate and splinter easily. They can cause extensive damage to internal organs and passage ways, potentially resulting in death.
• Mushrooms: Acute gastric effects, liver and kidney damage, abdominal pain, nausea, salivation, vomiting.
• Nutmeg: tremors, seizures and death.
• Tobacco: Nausea, salivation, vomiting, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)
• Onion: (cats are more sensitive) gastrointestinal upset, hemolytic anemia, heinz body anemia, hemogloinria, destroys red blood cells.
• Grapes, Raisins, Prunes: As little as a single serving of grapes or raisins can kill a dog. It takes anywhere from 9 oz to 2 lbs of grapes or raisins to cause severe vomiting and diarrhea, and possible kidney failure.
• Salt: Excessive intake can cause kidney problems.
• Raw Eggs: Can contain salmonella. Dogs have a higher immunity against salmonella poisoning but are not 100% immune and have been reported to get sick from uncooked eggs.

And finally, for the facts about cocoa mulch we defer to the ASPCA.